Shapeshifter (Knuckle Puck album)

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Shapeshifter
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 13, 2017 (2017-10-13)
GenrePop-punk[1]
Length31:03
LabelRise
ProducerSeth Henderson
Knuckle Puck chronology
Copacetic
(2015)
Shapeshifter
(2017)
20/20
(2020)

Shapeshifter is the second studio album by American pop-punk band Knuckle Puck. It was released on October 13, 2017 through Rise Records.

Background[edit]

In March 2017, Knuckle Puck released a seven-inch vinyl record, featuring the tracks "Calendar Days" and "Indecisive". From here until May 2017, the band supported Mayday Parade on their headlining tour of the United States,[2] and appeared at the So What?! Music Fest.[3]

When the band attempted to record a new album, it did not go as they intended, as guitarist Nick Casasanto explained they were "having such a struggle and being so disconnected in the recording process felt wrong". They decided to collaborate with Seth Henderson, who had produced Copacectic. Casasanto said there was a "glaring parallel between what was going on with the record and what we were writing about at the time."[4]

Release[edit]

On July 27, 2017, Shapeshifter was announced for released in three months' time. Alongside this, "Gone" was made available for streaming.[4] A music video for "Double Helix" was released on September 13, 2017, the same day the track was made available for streaming;[5] "Want Me Around" was then made available for streaming on October 6, 2017.[6] They promoted the album with a US tour in October and November 2017, with support from Movements, With Confidence and Homesafe.[5] A music video was released for "Gone" on October 19, 2017; it apes the video for "The Rock Show" (2001) by Blink-182, depicting a birthday party held in the Northwest of Indiana.[7] Following this, the band planned to headline a European tour with support from Tiny Moving Parts and Movements. Have Mercy was also intended to join, but had to pull out citing mental health reasons.[8] Before it was underway, Knuckle Puck cancelled the tour outright, also citing mental health issues.[9] At the end of the year, they co-headlined The Holiday Extravaganza festival with Real Friends.[10]

In March and April 2018, Knuckle Puck went on a headlining US, with support from Boston Manor, Free Throw, Hot Mulligan and Jetty Bones.[11] The Shifted EP was released in April 2018, featuring reworked versions of five tracks from Shapeshifter; it was preceded by "Conduit"[12] and "Nervous Passenger".[13] Following this, they appeared at the Galaxy Camp festival in Germany and Switzerland,[14] and Slam Dunk Festival in the United Kingdom, and played three regular shows in mainland Europe with State Champs.[15] A music video was released for "Want Me Around" on June 7, 2018.[16] Shortly after this, the band performed on the Warped Tour festival across the US.[17] In October 2018, the band went on a headlining UK tour with support from Tiny Moving Parts and Movements.[18] followed by a support slot for Good Charlotte on their headlining US tour, which ran into November 2018.[19] Knuckle Puck closed out the year co-headlining the Snowed in festival with Knocked Loose.[20]

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
Paste7.2/10[1]
Rock Sound9/10[22]

Shapeshifter was met with universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on four reviews.[21]

It peaked at number 50 on the Billboard 200;[23] it reached the top 10 on the Alternative Albums,[24] Independent Albums[25] and Top Rock Albums.[26]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Nervous Passenger"1:31
2."Twist"3:02
3."Double Helix"2:50
4."Gone"3:05
5."Everyone Lies to Me"2:53
6."Stuck in Our Ways"3:02
7."Want Me Around"3:31
8."Conduit"3:33
9."Wait"3:27
10."Plastic Brains"4:09

Personnel[edit]

  • Joe Taylor – lead vocals
  • Nick Casasanto – rhythm guitar, co-lead vocals
  • Kevin Maida – lead guitar
  • Ryan Rumchaks – bass, backing vocals
  • John Siorek – drums

Charts[edit]

Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[23] 50
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[25] 3
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[24] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] 9

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Barr, Natalie (October 10, 2017). "Knuckle Puck: Shapeshifter Review". Paste. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Knuckle Puck announce first new music since 'Copacetic'". Alternative Press. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Knuckle Puck vocalist taken to hospital after falling from stage". Alternative Press. March 26, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Knuckle Puck release new single, announce album". Alternative Press. July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Dickman, Maggie (September 13, 2017). "Knuckle Puck debut striking new single, 'Double Helix'—listen". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Vincent, Brittany (October 6, 2017). "Knuckle Puck release emotionally charged 'Want Me Around'—listen now". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Dickman, Maggie (October 19, 2017). "Knuckle Puck share hilarious, Blink-182-inspired 'Gone' music video". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "Have Mercy drop out of Knuckle Puck tour dates". Alternative Press. November 13, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Knuckle Puck cancel EU/UK tour, share important statement on mental health". Alternative Press. November 20, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Shawgo, Kelsey (September 25, 2017). "Real Friends and Knuckle Puck announce two day Holiday Extravaganza". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Dickman, Maggie (December 13, 2017). "Knuckle Puck announce headlining tour with Boston Manor, Free Throw". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Dickman, Maggie (March 1, 2018). "Knuckle Puck share dreamy version of 'Conduit' from reworked record, 'Shifted'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Tullio, Lauren (March 26, 2018). "Knuckle Puck share reimagined version of 'Nervous Passenger' and other news you might have missed". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "State Champs, Knuckle Puck, more announced for festival and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. January 23, 2018. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Tullio, Lauren (January 31, 2018). "State Champs, Knuckle Puck add additional dates to tour and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Knuckle Puck release new music video and other news you may have missed today". Alternative Press. June 7, 2018. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Warped Tour's final run: watch a live stream of the first day". Alternative Press. June 21, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "Dance Gavin Dance release a new music video for 'Care' and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  19. ^ "Good Charlotte announce another supporting act for upcoming tour". Alternative Press. September 6, 2018. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Serra, Maria (October 30, 2018). "Stand Atlantic share new music video and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Shapeshifter". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  22. ^ Bird, Ryan (October 16, 2017). "Knuckle Puck – Shapeshifter". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Knuckle Puck Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Knuckle Puck Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  25. ^ a b "Knuckle Puck Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  26. ^ a b "Knuckle Puck Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.

External links[edit]